Game apparatus



2 Sheets ,Sheet 1. J. A. TYNG. GAMB APPARATUS.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 4,1898.

- WITNESSES Tu: Nonms mns co. Pnomxmo., WAS-"Navo". D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J.A.TY1\1G.`

GAME APPARATUS.

No. 596,556. Patented Jan. 4, 1898.

IA j: QH go UNTTED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

JAMES A.` TYNG, oE snoRr HILLS, NEW JEEsEY.

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,556, dated January 4, 1898.

Application filed January 2 l 8 9 7.

T0 @ZZ whom t rudy concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. TYNG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Short Hills, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to apparatus whereby the game of golf can be played indoors, although in many respects played under the same rules as the said outdoor game is played. In order that my invention may be understood, a short description of the game of golf is necessary.

The game of golf may be defined to consist of playing a ball by means of appropriate clubs from certain places, called teeinggrounds,into holes made for the purpose and placed at varying distances from said teeinggrounds, the object of each player being to drive his ball from the teeing-ground into the holes with the smallest number of strokes. The ground upon which the game is played is commonly called the links or golfcourse.l This ground of course is generally of a diversified and undulating character, and in the line from the teeing-ground to the hole there are generally a number of natural or artificial obstaclessuch as bunkers, Woods, streams, fences, citewhich are known by the general name of ,hazards. This is for the sake of making the course more difficult to play and to compel the player to loft the bal l over the various hazards. S urrounding each hole to which the ball is played is a closely-cut piece of turf or grass land called the putting-green. The number of these holes may vary, and although eighteen holes are generally recognized to be the proper number that a golf-course should contain nine and even siX hole courses are not uncommon, and the complete distance around an eighteen-hole course generally varies from two and three-quarter miles to three and three-quarter miles. In order to render the course as convenient to the players as is possible, the holes are often laid out in a somewhat circular course, the teeing-ground of each successive hole being near the green of the preceding hole and the last hole usually being placed near the club-house.

Although the game may be played by two Serial No. 617,728. (No model.)

or more people, it is more usual for two individuals to play against each other, the match being called a single to distinguish it from a threesome or foursome, played by three or four persons, respectively. These two players start at the first teeing-ground and each tees his own ball on a small pinch of sand called a tee Each player in turn endeavors to drive his ball from the tee on or asvnear as possible to the putting-green and to put it into the hole with the smallest number of strokes. The player holing his ball in the fewest strokes wins the hole, and if both take the same number the hole is `said to be halved, neither Winning it. The

game proceeds from teeing-ground to hole until eighteen holes have been played, which is the usual number that is played. The player who wins. the greatest number of holes wins the match, but if they both win the same number the match is halved or drawn.

The game is also played by counting the aggregate number of strokes it takes to play the eighteen holes. This is called medal play, in distinction to the first-named method of play, which is termed match play.

The ground over which the course extends being generally diversified, as before explained, by the presence of various obstacles, natural or artificial, over which it is necessary to drive the ball in the progress of the game and the obstacles being of different characters and elevations, it is found necessary in the playing of the game to employ clubs of various forms to impart to the balls the required movements, whether horizontally or with a loft or elevation, and these clubs are variously designated as the driver, the brassy, the cleek, the mashie, the niblick, and the putter, and are respectively used in the progress of the game, as the conformation and nature of the grounds or length of drive desired may require, substantially as follows: The driver is employed to drive the ball off the tee wlien a long distance its required, and is also used through the course when the ball lies where it can be properly used. The brassy, which in some respects resembles the driver, is used when the lay is not good enough for the driver or the distance desired is not so great; the cleekv when a drive with a brassy might overcarry ICO the point desired to be reached; the mashie to raise and carry the ball over obstacles and also for short distances; the niblick to extract the ball out of bunkers or other hazards, and the putter, as its name implies, to put the ball into the hole after it has been landed upon the putting-green.

The game, as before explained,being played out of doors can only be engaged in when the groundis comparatively dry and irm, and cannot,as a consequence,be so well played during the winter months, when the grounds are covered with snow,'or during or for-somehours after any considerable fall of rain. -As aresult of this the season during which the game `can be enjoyed is so comparatively short that but few can afford time and expense necessaryto 'the acquisition of a knowledge vof the game and to play-ing the "same afterward.

In ord er,there'fore,toprovide a game which, while adapted to be played indoors at all seasons 'of the year without the use of balls and clubs, shall have substantially all of the distinguishing characteristics of the lgame of golf and lat the same time be within the reach of all, is vthe object of my invention.

To this end 'the invention consists in the combination, with a teetotum having various letters, numbers, and other indicia thereon, 'of la miniature golf-course provide'dwith` representations of teeing-grounds, putting-4 greens, holes, and other hazards, and with a" series of measuring-units extending'fromeach teeing-ground to its respective putting-green, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

which form -a partof this speciiicati'on, Figure l is-a diagram of a golf-course containing nine holes, with the usual appurtenances" thereto; Fig. 2, an isometric view of the tee-v totum employed in connection with my game; Fig. 3, a plan View thereof; Figs. 4 to `7, inclusive, side elevations showing different the progress 'of the game.

`Inall the figures like letters of reference are employed todesignate corresponding parts.

-A indicates a landscape which is or may be diversified by any natural or artificial `objectseesu'ch, 'for instance, as trees, small streams, ponds,ditches, houses, and the likeand B vB' B2, tbc., indicate .the course between the lvarious teeing-grou nds and their puttinggreens.v T-he number of vthese teeing-grounds and putting-'greens may bevaried within any desired limits, but as here shown for the pu'rpose of illustration `there are nine of each, andthe course between such teeing-grounds and 'putting-greens is indicated, respectively, by the letters vB to B8, inclusive, and this,

withthe landscape, is preferably made in the fdriven 'at each stroke.

means whereby it may be fold ed up to reduce its area when not in use.

In the disposition of the course upon the landscape any convenient or preferred arrangement may be adopted, it only being essential that, whatever the arrangement selected may be, such course shall extend over the several obstacles presented and that the teeing grounds, putting greens, and holes shall be plainly indicated. In the accompanyin g drawings these several grounds, greens, `and holes are respectively marked d, b, and c, while the'obstacles or hazards over and across which the course extends are marked by the letters d and c.

The several distances between the teeinggrounds and the putting-greens being disposed in 'the desired relation with respect to one another and 'to the several -obstacles or hazards over or across which they extend are divided up into units of equal length and numbered in a separate series m for each of said distances, commencing witheach tee and extending to and beyond each putting-green. In lthe drawings the series of figures indicate the vdistance in yards, but this is optional and is so done as being the most convenient standard and one which followsthe analogy of the regular game, when all distances are usually measured in yards.

With a course laid out as above explained =a markerlor indicator C is necessary to mark ithe distance which 'the ball is supposed to be This marking may be accomplished by moving the indicator along the line of iigures, which run from each tee- `ing-ground to the putting-green, the requisite number of yards corresponding with the stroke made, Vwith 'the pointer n of the indi- 'ca'tor placed upon the proper number in a dilrecti'on transversely of the link, as shown at '0in Fig. l.

For determining the distance which each pl'ayers 'stroke shall carry him I makeuse of ateetotum I). This teetotum may be constructed in various forms. I prefer, however, ito construct it in the form o'f a prism with a lplurality of plane sides and with both a point p on its lower end, upon which it may be rotated, and a spindle q on its upper end, through 'which its rotation may be eifected by the fingers vand thumb of the player. In the form selected by me for illustration of my invention this teetotum is constructed with eight sides or faces, and with .the exception of oneface, 'which is blank, is provided `with l a lvertical row of letters and numbers, which are disposed thereon with one under the other,

asshown.

In 'order 'that 'the game may be played in similar mann'erto the outdoor game of golf, the letters and figures on the teetotum are supposed to represent the character and distance of the stroke made bythe player at each play. Iior'this purpose the initial letters represent the various golf-clubs, D representing the driver,7 B the brassy, C

IOO

IIO

the cleek, M the mashie, and P the putter, while the numbers indicate the distance the ball is driven-as, for instance, D 160 indicates that the player has used the driver and has driven the ball one hundred and sixty yards. Any unit of measurement can of course be used, but I prefer to measure all the distances on the course in yards, as previously explained.

In the same manner as the above the letters B C M represent the club used, and the various figures following each initial the varying distances of the stroke made by the respective club.

N, the niblick, is a club that is generally used for the purpose of extracting the players ball from any of the obstacles in the course, and as the player in the regular game of golf is often compelled to play his ball back out of such obstaclesupon the teetotum the figures 20 over, 2O back,7 tbc., that follow the letter N indicate that the player has played the ball twenty yards over the obstacle or twenty yards back of the obstacle, &c., as the case may be. The letter and word N miss indicate that the player has missed his stroke and that the ball still remains in the obstacle.

P dead indicates that the player has used his putter and has played the ball so near the hole as to be almost certain of holing it at the next stroke. Any ball in such a position is, in the language of the game, said to be dead to the hole. When the player is thus dead to the hole, he is required to spin the teetotum again and shall be considered to have holed out on that stroke, unless the blank side of the teetotum is uppermost, in which case he shall be considered to have missed his dead put and is obliged to play again.-

P miss indicates that the player has used the putter, but has failed to play the ball dead to the hole.

"P holed indicates that the player has used the putter and driven the ball in the hole at that stroke. If upon spinning the teetotum the blank side should come uppermost, this indicates that the player has missed his stroke with whatever club he may have selected.

The particular letters and figures can be changed on the teetotum; but in the drawings they are such as are best calculated to resemble the strokes that would actually be made by a player in the regular game of golf. Thus, the driver being the club that drives the ball the farthest distance, the letter D upon the teetotum has opposite to it the largest numbers, the letter B 7 the next largest, and

so on throughout the series.

In placing the various obstacles on the mini` ature course or chart great care and skill is required to place them at such distances from the teeing-grounds and putting-greens and from each other as will necessitatea high degree of skill in the player in selecting the lmost advantageous club to be used, and in this manner the resemblance of the present game to the regular game is much strengthened.

. The course and teetotum being constructed and equipped as above explained, the present game is played by two or more players, as follows: The party whose turn it is to play, after specifying the club that he purposes using, spins or rotates the teetotum and after it stops registers with the marker C upon the line of 'numbers running from the teeingground to the putting-green the distance the ball is driven, as indicated by the figures on the uppermost side of the teetotum opposite the initial of that particular club. The next player in turn thereupon in like manner specifies the club that he purposes using, and after spinning the teetotum registers in a similar manner the distance indicated thereby, and so on throughout the game, the several players in turn specifying at their respective turns of play the particular clubs selected by them, which, if the game is skilfully played, will be the same as those that would ordinarily be selected by them in the playing of the game out of doors when their respective balls laid in the same position with respect'to the tees, holes, hazards, or greens as the markers or indicators C, which in the present game correspond to such balls.

In the selection of the club to be used the player has his option, with the following exceptions: If the distance made by the players stroke or spin should be such as to carry him into a bunker or other hazard, excepting the brook c, which intersects the course extending from the eighth and ninth teeing-grounds, the player is then compelled to select the niblick as the club to be used, and the said niblick shall be only used on such occasion. The distance of these bunkers or hazards may be appropriately indicated on the chart of the game, and in the drawings are indicated by heavy figures or numbers placed at one side of the line extending from the teeing-grounds to the putting-greens.

' Wh en the players stroke shall have carried him to any of the putting-greens, which on the drawings are represented as being thirty yards broad and are indicated by side numbers, there being four such numbers toeach green, and a stroke which carries to any one of the four numbers being considered to have reached the green, the player shall then, and only then, (and is compelled to,) select the putter as his club, and upon spinning the teetotum the stroke made by him will be indicated, as above explained.

Should the players stroke carry him into the brook, which is indicated by side numbers in like manner as the other hazards, the player with the penalty of the loss of one stroke is allowed to place his indicator or IOO IIO

marker at any number on the row or line of the number selected and the putting-green, and to play again.

The score is kept in the same manner as in the outdoor game, the player winning the majority of holes winning the match, or the player going over the course with the smallest number of strokes Winningthe match, accordingly as the game played is'match or medal play, as previously explained.

With the course arranged as above explained and the teetotum constructed and provided with numbers, letters, and other in'- dicia, as described, a complete and thorough knowledge of the game of golf as played out of doors can be acquired, and the present game can be played indoors with approximately the same degree of amusement and pleasure as when played out of doors with balls and clubs.

In the construction of the teetotum any appropriate material or materials may be usedsuch, forinstance, as wood, ivory, bone, metal, cements, or a composition of two o r more of them. I prefer, however, to make use of a composition somewhat resembling Celluloid for the purpose, as this possesses the requisite degree of lightness and beauty of iinish with reasonableness of cost.

I-Iaving now described my invention and specified one of the embodiments thereof, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States-- 1. The combination, with a miniature golfcourse having representations of teeinggrounds, putting-greens, holes, and hazards,

and provided With a series of measuring-units extending from each teeing-ground to its respective putting-green over the various hazards, of a teetotum constructed with a plurality of sides several of which are provided with a series of letters that are respectively the initials of the several clubs made use of in playing the game of golf, a series of numbers indicating the distance that is to be registered for each of the letters as it may come uppermost after spinning the teetotum, and other indicia, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a miniature golfcourse having representations of teeinggrounds, putting-greens, holes, and hazards, and provided withaseries 0f measuring-units extending from each teeing-ground to its respective puttingfgreen over the various hazards, of a teetotum constructed with a plurality of sides several of which are provided with a series of letters that are respectively the initials of the various clubs made use of in playing the game of golf, a series of num bers indicating the distance that is to be registered for each of the letters as it may come uppermost after spinning the teetotum, and other indicia, and indicators for registering the game, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of December, A. D.

JAMES A. TYNG. Witnesses:

M. T. CARRIG, WVM. J. GEARY. 

